Purtscher retinopathy was first described in 1910 by Otmar Purtscher in a man who suffered a traumatic head injury.1 Patients commonly present with a loss of visual acuity and a recent history of injury such as head trauma or chest compression.2,3 In the case of a nontraumatic injury, the terminology commonly used is “Purtscher-like retinopathy.” It is associated with various systemic diseases, including acute pancreatitis, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, connective tissue disorders, and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Purtscher retinopathy was first described in 1910 by Otmar Purtscher in a man who suffered a traumatic head injury.1 Patients commonly present with a loss of visual acuity and a recent history of injury such as head trauma or chest compression.2,3 In the case of a nontraumatic injury, the terminology commonly used is “Purtscher-like retinopathy.” It is associated with various systemic diseases, including acute pancreatitis, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, connective tissue disorders, and hemolytic uremic syndrome.